UFC Fight Night 8: Rashad Evans vs. Sean Salmon

Although lacking an official announcement from the UFC, a Rashad Evans (9-0 MMA, 4-0) vs. Sean Salmon (9-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) light heavyweight matchup at UFC Night 8 (Jan. 25, 2007) seems to be a certainty. Just take a trip to the UFC.com homepage, where a banner graphic is promoting the night’s two top fights: Evans-Salmon and Dean Lister-Nate Marquardt.

The event, which will likely air on Spike TV, takes place at the Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, Fla.

I posted a rumor of the Lister-Marquardt match last week. The middleweight bout was originally supposed to take place at UFC 67 but was eventually moved to the UFC Fight Night card. Either Lister (9-4 MMA, 2-0 UFC) or Marquardt (22-6-2 MMA, 3-0 UFC) could move very close to a title shot with a win.

The Evans-Salmon fight is an interesting one. Evans, the heavyweight winner of The Ultimate Fighter’s third season, was moving up the light-heavyweight ranks with wins over Sam Hoger, Stephan Bonnar and Jason Lambert, but he’ll face a UFC newcomer in Salmon, who’s fought eight times outside the UFC in 2006 (though only two bouts went past the first round).

Like Evans, Salmon was a nationally ranked wrestler. You can read his blog here.

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